CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES DECEMBER 24

Family Christmas Service 5PM

Traditional Late Night Christmas Service 11PM

Christmas Eve service at 5 pm will be especially designed for the inclusion of children.  If you come early before 5PM, you can help set up luminaries and enjoy some cookies. We will have the choice of traditional or battery candles for children and adults.

At 11PM we will have traditional service. Both services will have candle lighting with real and battery operated candles.

There are many people who use this time of celebrating Jesus birth to come to church and hear the good news. Unfortunately many who don't get invited and don't know where to go. Don't forget to invite your friends and neighbors. All families will receive a special Christmas ornament.

If you want to share some cookies, or other snacks, please bring it before the 5pm service and place it on the snack table in the welcome space.

DECEMBER 29

Worship Service with Lessons and Carols

On the First Sunday of Christmas, our worship will be a

a service of lessons, carols and communion together.

In our gathering around words of Scripture and a Holy Meal, God continues to redeem us, lift us up, and carry us as in days of old.

Come and sing together, listen and sing and experience Christ revealed through word, music, bread and wine, ordinary things revealing the holy in our midst as we gather.

JANUARY 5

Festival of Epiphany

 

The Twelve Days of Christmas will conclude on Sunday, January 5.

We will celebrate Epiphany, the revelation of God incarnate in Jesus Christ.

We remember the journey and arrival of the Magi from foreign land finding their hope fulfilled in a small babe sent by God. 

FROM THE PRESCHOOL

The children enjoyed reading a special story by the Christmas tree.

We were excited to discover the nativity figures in the star window.

BOOK STUDY IN JANUARY

We will read the book, "An Altar in the World" by Barbara Brown Taylor. We plan to begin on Monday January 13 , meet from 1-2:30 each week and be finished before Lent begins.) I hope you will put this series on your calendars and plan to join us then. Questions? Contact Laurel

Christmas is a time for giving

End-of-Year Giving Information

If you are planning to make a gift at the end of the year to support the ministry of Saint Mark , remember that the IRS requires all gifts for 2018 to be received by the church or post-marked by December 31, 2018. You can make gifts to support the core ministry and to other ministries of Saint Mark. You can find more information about opportunities to give or donate online at https://stmarklutheran.org/give-pledge-now/

If you need assistance with tax advantageous gifts like gifts of stock or donations as a part of your required minimum distribution from an IRA, you can contact the church office at [email protected] or talk to Linda Roberts .

Do You Need to Take a Required Minimum Distribution from your IRA?

If you are 70.5 years old and need to take a Required Minimum Distribution from your IRA, you have an opportunity to support St. Mark and save money on your taxes. Under the current tax law, a gift made from directly from an IRA to a qualifying charitable organization counts toward your required IRA minimum distribution requirement. Making a gift directly from your IRA to Saint Mark Lutheran Church allows you to support a ministry you love and to lower both your adjusted gross income and your taxable income, resulting in a lower overall tax liability. Talk to your tax advisor to find out if this strategy will work for you.

MINISTRY OF WORSHIP AND MUSIC

Sunday December 29

Welcome: Alice McKenna     

Greeter:  Charlotte Owen

Ushers:  Lewis & Crosby Horton

Crucifer/Acolyte/Chalice: Christophe Escobar/Heidi Jones

Assisting Minister:  Constance Johnson

Children Moment: 

Lector: Linda I, Sylvie B, Nora G, Suzanne H

Cantor: 

Altar Guild: Jessica Ney-Grimm

Nursery: Madeleine Jones

Snack:

Coffee/Clean up:  Gail Milligan & Susan Horton

Counters:  Elaine Oakey & Lois Shepherd